The Influence of Social Media on Sleep
In the age of social media, it can be hard to put down our phones, tablets, and laptops to enjoy a good night’s sleep. With the prevalence of social media, it has become increasingly difficult to resist checking our notifications, streaming videos, and scrolling for hours on end. As a result, many of us are experiencing interrupted sleep patterns and fatigue.
Social media has become an integral part of our lives, but it can be hard to recognize when it becomes a distraction from our health and well-being. Research suggests that too much time spent on social media may negatively impact a person’s quality of sleep.
Our bodies are wired to need enough healthy sleep in order to perform optimally during the day. Unfortunately, if a person routinely uses their device prior to going to bed, they may be disrupting their sleep patterns and impacting their overall health.
The Impact of Blue Light
One of the primary issues with using our personal devices before bed is the blue light that they give off. Blue light emits from devices and can trick our brains into thinking it is still daytime, suppressing melatonin. Melatonin is a major hormone that helps to regulate the body’s sleep cycle. Without it, it can be difficult for individuals to experience a good night’s sleep.
Investing in blue light blocking glasses, flipping your device to night mode settings, or exercising habits such as powering down at least one hour before bed can help improve one’s ability to get better sleep. Additionally, the use of wallpapers or apps that change the display to become more red in tone can help to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by a device.
Creating Healthy Habits
It is important to maintain healthy boundaries when it comes to using social media. If an individual notices that they are constantly feeling tired or drained during the day, it may be a good time to examine their habits with social media.
Creating a nighttime routine can be an important tool for curbing the urge to mindlessly scroll. This may involve power down one’s mobile device, reading a book, or practicing mindfulness. Additionally, it is important to find the right amount of sleep that works best for you.
How to Improve Your Sleep with Social Media
- Practice good sleep hygiene
- Limit the time you spend on social media
- Turn on night mode settings on devices to reduce blue light emission
- Turn off notifications before bed to reduce distractions
- Establish healthy boundaries when it comes to your device usage
- Take regular breaks from your device to recharge
Conclusion
Social media can have a major impact on our daily lives, including our sleep patterns. If you find that you are struggling to sleep or feel tired during the day, implementing healthier boundaries with your social media usage may be one way to help improve your sleep habits. Implementing a nighttime routine, exercising limits with device usage, and reducing blue light sources can help to alleviate disruption to one’s sleep pattern.